Non-food legislation – March 2021
EU matters
ECHA reports that evaluating similar chemicals in groups has helped to select substances more efficiently for assessment in 2020. FPF reports that EFSA has published an updated scientific opinion (13.74 MB) on its risk assessment of HBCDDs, concluding that current dietary exposures do not represent a health concern except for breastfed infants. HBCDDs are flame retardants that are added to a variety of consumer products including polystyrene packaging. ECHA has announced that the EU Chemicals Legislation Finder EUCLEF has been updated with 16 additional pieces of legislation, bringing the total to 56. ECHA also reports that the guidance on the harmonised requirements for poison centre notifications following CLP Annex VIII has been updated. The EP ENVI Committee has submitted a draft motion (205 kB) for a resolution to the EC addressing hazardous chemicals in products and packaging that are supposed to be reused or recycled. According to a new study (2.97 MB) by ECHA, restricting the manufacturing and use of chemicals that pose a risk in the EU results in health benefits worth around €2.1 billion each year over the next decades.
US matters
Safer States has released its annual analysis of anticipated state-level policies on chemical regulation. Chemical Watch has published an infographic on state-level regulatory development throughout 2020.
The Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse (TPCH) has revised its Model Toxics in Packaging Legislation. The update includes the addition of PFAS and phthalates as regulated chemicals, as well as new processes and criteria for identifying and regulating additional chemicals of high concern in packaging.
An article (174 kB) by DTSC researchers, published in Environmental Health Perspectives looks at regulating PFAS as a single class as proposed under the California Safer Consumer Products Program.
Research and initiatives
FPF reports that the TENDR project has published a review (810 kB) in the American Journal of Public Health on the connection between phthalate exposure and increased risk for developing learning, attention, and behavioural disorders in childhood. The strongest correlation was found for phthalate exposure and ADHD.
In an article (abstract) published in Science, IPCP calls for a global intergovernmental science-policy body for informing policymakers, businesses, and the public about reducing harm from chemical pollution. FPF reports that the OECD has published a guidance document (2.66 MB) setting a basis for minimum requirements to determine that a chemical alternative is safer than the one it would substitute.
CHEM Trust has launched a webpage on chemical mixtures.
According to a new report by ChemSec, the presence of hazardous chemicals in recycled materials prevents the upscaling of a circular economy. You can download the report after filling in your e-mail address.
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